Planning polyhouse farming in Raikot? Raikot is a small town in Ludhiana district, Punjab, home to about 29,000 people (GeoNames)[1][2], about 270 km from Delhi. Below we use the town's monthly temperatures, humidity and rainfall to work out which structure fits, which crops to grow and in which months, before you spend on construction.
Climate for polyhouse farming in Raikot
May is the hottest month in Raikot, with average daily highs of about 43°C. January has the coolest nights, averaging 5°C.[3] The area gets about 566 mm of rain a year. The wettest months are July to August, peaking in July at about 139 mm. Raikot sits about 235 m above sea level.[2] On the Köppen–Geiger climate map, Raikot falls in the hot semi-arid zone (BSh).[4]
Raikot climate by month
Month
Avg high (°C)
Avg low (°C)
Humidity (%)
Rain (mm)
Jan
19.9
5.0
45
20
Feb
24.1
8.3
44
25
Mar
30.8
14.1
37
25
Apr
37.7
20.7
28
17
May
42.5
26.8
23
25
Jun
42.5
29.7
34
76
Jul
38.8
28.6
54
139
Aug
36.6
26.8
62
128
Sep
35.4
23.5
58
92
Oct
32.9
18.4
42
6
Nov
27.1
12.3
38
5
Dec
21.9
7.1
40
8
Area averages (a grid cell of about 50 km) for 2001–2025, from NASA POWER, centred on Raikot. Rainfall and night temperatures at your plot can differ, especially near hills and the coast.[3]
Advantages of protected cultivation in Raikot
1
Year-round crops
A polyhouse stretches the season: in Raikot cucumber can be grown for about 7 months a year under cover, longer than in the open field.
2
Better yield and price
Plants grow without rain, hail and wind damage, so yields are higher and more even, and clean, graded produce sells at a better price, especially off-season.
3
Less water
With only about 566 mm of rain a year here, drip irrigation under cover saves water: less is lost to evaporation and run-off than in the open field.
4
Less pesticides
Insect net on vents and doors keeps out most pests, so you spray less often.
5
Subsidy eligible
Polyhouse, shade net and nethouse projects in Punjab can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department.[5]
Which polyhouse suits Raikot?
For polyhouse farming in Raikot, the structure decides which months you can crop and what it costs to run. The heat in Raikot comes with dry air. In May to July, average highs reach 43°C while average humidity is only about 37%. In that dry air, wet pads can bring a 43°C May afternoon down to roughly 30°C inside a Fan & Pad polyhouse, which keeps herbs and vine crops going; lettuce will still struggle in the hottest weeks. For vine crops such as capsicum and cucumber, a naturally ventilated polyhouse with a shade screen works from March and November and costs less to run.
Sunlight peaks in May at about 7.0 kWh per m² a day, so add a shade screen for leafy greens in the brightest months. A nethouse, the lowest-cost option, can grow hardy crops in March and October to November, when it is mild and fairly dry.
Crops for Raikot
Based on Raikot's climate, the crops with the longest growing windows are cucumber (7 months), chilli pepper (7 months) and lettuce (7 months). Cucumber fits March to May and July to October with Fan & Pad cooling. These are the crops we would plan first for polyhouse farming in Raikot.
Months each crop suits in Raikot
Crop
Naturally ventilated polyhouse
With Fan & Pad cooling
Capsicum
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Tomato
Mar and Nov
Mar–Apr and Sep–Nov
Cucumber
Mar and Oct
Mar–May and Jul–Oct
Chilli pepper
Mar and Oct–Nov
Mar–May and Aug–Nov
Brinjal
Mar and Oct
Mar–May and Aug–Oct
Lettuce
Nov–Feb
Oct–Apr
Broccoli
Dec–Jan
Nov–Mar
Strawberry
Dec–Feb
Nov–Mar
Rose
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Gerbera
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Carnation
Feb
Feb–Mar and Nov
Chrysanthemum
Nov
Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov
Anthurium
Difficult
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
Orchids
Difficult
Apr–May and Sep–Oct
Lilium
Difficult
Feb–Mar and Nov
Kryzen planning estimate from the monthly averages above and each crop's usual day and night temperature range. Variety, soil or substrate temperature and shading change the result, so confirm with a trial.
₹7,383Spending per person per month, urban Punjab, 2023–24[6]
270 kmto Delhi, the nearest metro (straight line)
Urban households in Punjab spent an average of ₹7,383 per person per month in 2023–24, above the all-India urban average of ₹7,078.[6] Local demand in Raikot may be small for exotic greens, so plan where the rest of the harvest goes. Ludhiana, about 40 km away, is the nearest larger market on our list.
Polyhouse farming in Raikot with Kryzen
We have built 4 projects in Punjab so far (see our project map (opens in a new tab)). Raikot is about 1,200 km in a straight line from our Nashik warehouse, our nearest site.
Towns near Raikot
We also plan and build farms in these towns near Raikot:
Map: LGD 2024 boundaries via bharatlas, CC BY 4.0. For illustration only.
Polyhouse farming in Raikot: FAQs
Can a polyhouse farm run all year in Raikot?
Yes, with the right structure. For Raikot we would plan a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens. Even then, lettuce is hard to grow in May to September, so plan another crop for those months.
Which polyhouse is best for Raikot?
With May highs of about 43°C and 23% average humidity in that month, we would start with a Fan & Pad polyhouse for leafy greens.
Which crops should I grow in a polyhouse in Raikot?
Going by the monthly climate, cucumber, chilli pepper and lettuce have the longest growing windows. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers before you plant.
Is polyhouse farming profitable in Raikot?
It can be, if the crop, the structure and the buyers match. In Raikot, cucumber and chilli pepper have the longest seasons under cover. Confirm prices and volumes with buyers first; our Detailed Project Report works out the cost, yield and returns for your plot.
Does Kryzen build polyhouses in Raikot?
Yes. Our nearest site is our Nashik warehouse, about 1,200 km away, and we have built 4 projects in Punjab.
Is there a subsidy for polyhouse or hydroponic farms in Punjab?
Yes. Protected cultivation projects in Punjab can apply for Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) assistance through the state horticulture department. Check the current rate and area limit when you apply.
Discuss your Raikot farm project
Share your plot location, water test and crop targets. We will suggest the right structure and growing system, and send an itemised quotation.
A computer engineer turned hydroponic farmer from a multigenerational farming family in Satara. Sudhir founded Kryzen in 2019, and the team has since built 350+ protected and hydroponic farms across India.
